The large windows let in fresh breezes and provide an opportunity for the owners to jump out of the house and into the water.

Keeping the home cozy in winter is as easy as snuggling up near the Rais stove or the fluffy pooch.

Maja's room is filled with toys and includes a little desk area for drawing and writing.

For the style-conscious city dweller who values utility above all else, the DraMaten New York Shopping Trolley from Urbanista features a sleek, foldable frame, water-resistant exterior, and generous pockets that are large enough to carry groceries, laundry, or just about anything else a New Yorker—or other urban inhabitant—might need.

Apolo's bedroom is unmistakably that of a young boy, as the old-school computer font and clear debt to NASA suggest.

Delightfully simple, yet wonderfully functional, the rainbow-hued trivet offers an attractive way to protect tabletops from hot pots. $20 from areaware.com.

Chicken under glass? Apolo will settle for eggs for breakfast.

In the home of Dwell founder Lara Hedberg Deam, her child's room features Maija & Kristina Isola's Sola bedding for Marimekko.

Paul spreads out his toys on a rug from Pottery Barn.

A little fun with orange paint.

With little beach to speak of, sunbathing is confined to a craggy bit of rock just above the water at this house near the town of Las Caletillas. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!

Patterned Shoe Pots by Wyatt Little, $50 at wyattlittle.com Wyatt Little's playful ceramics transform everyday objects—like the humble sneaker—into delightful vessels perfect for holding plants.

Lange reads the newspaper in a vintage Pierre Paulin Little Tulip chair for Artifort.

The Little Bird Swing by Christopher Campbell

New Mexico Pillow by Little Korboose “These are the most luxurious pillows, really simple and soft, made from organic speck cotton. An accent pillow can make more of a statement when it’s something so soft you want to touch.”

Here's the little guy, all finished.

Just inside, Pippa, one half of the ever-entertaining twins, goofs around on the stairs leading from the entrance to the main floor and the bedrooms below.

Thanks to its translucent envelope of polycarbonate plastic, the house glows like a firefly at night and is so bright during the day that resident Daisuke Tokuyama says he rarely turns on a light.

Number Wood Blocks, $19 at Little Sapling Toys.

Little Field of Flowers, 2006, designed by Tord Boontje.

The Hollyhock House Was Supposed to Have a Small Schoolhouse Wright’s first L.A. project, the private home of Aline Barnsdall and her daughter, was meant to be part of a larger collection of buildings, including a theater and cinema all set on the 36-acre plot on Olive Hill. While many of the initial additions weren't finished because of budgetary reasons and aesthetic differences, a proposed schoolhouse was halted due to code issues. Named the Little Dipper, since the footprints of the foundation mimicked the constellation, the proposed one-room building was to be made of concrete blocks and contain a raised stage and fireplace. After construction was halted, it was turned into a garden.

"Invasion of the Little People" by London-based artist Slinkachu.

For now, Kimi, age six, and Darin, age two and a half, happily share a room and bunk bed. Kimi’s clothes are stored on low shelves in the built-in closet, so he can dress himself, and the children’s toys are stored within easy reach in open drawers.

The unifying elements of walnut and steel—with a little marble and concrete thrown in—continue downstairs in the bathroom and bedroom.

The Whistle stool is a relaxed piece with a little bit of attitude.

Here they are after a little D.I.Y. action.

The book teaches kids to count from one to 10 by pairing each digit with the same number or a particular style house, like the three Nordic island houses seen here.

Little confusion over what this flipper is meant for.

This little plate caught our eye—perhaps a little kitsch for some, but who doesn't love a mobile home? -Sarah

The 10-stop architectural tour ends with a trip to the Netherlands and a colorful lineup of traditional terraced town houses.

The colorful book Little Houses: A Counting Book (Chronicle Books) features Helen Musselwhite's playful cut-paper illustrations of a variety of architectural styles, including the Japanese tea house.